How to get rid of squeaky clean feeling in soap

[NGSoaper]

I have noticed that a lot of handmade soap recipes have that “squeaky clean” feeling, which I do not like. Can anyone advise on how to get rid of that feeling? One site said that olive oil gives that feeling, but I have soaps with olive oil and other ingredients that did not cause the squeaky cleaning. Some people like that feeling, but then I’d be making soap that I wouldn’t even use. I use 20% coconut oil in my recipes and I still get the feeling, and it’s not drying my hands out either.

 

[shunt2011]

Dropping the amount of coconut will help. Coconut is cleansing in soap and some don’t or can’t use it above 10-15%.

 

[Marilyn Norgart]

I am going to start this with sayin I am sorry but...I remember when I was younger "squeeky clean" was a very good thing. and I chuckle to myself everytime this comes up. sorry couldn't resist

 

[NGSoaper]

Dropping the amount of coconut will help. Coconut is cleansing in soap and some don’t or can’t use it above 10-15%.

Thank you. I will drop the coconut oil further in my next recipes.

 

[Meena]

I find cocoa butter and sometimes other butters give a "squeak" while rinsing off the lather. My skin doesn't feel stripped of oils or over-cleansed, though; so for me at least, it isn't the same as 'squeaky clean'. So it depends -- hard to say without knowing exactly what's going on for you. Do you feel over-dry or just hearing the sound?

 

[lenarenee]

That squeak could also be because of your type of water.....is it hard by chance? You said your skin wasn’t dry, so it may not not the coconut oil.

 

[NGSoaper]

That squeak could also be because of your type of water.....is it hard by chance? You said your skin wasn’t dry, so it may not not the coconut oil.

Unfortunately, my water is hard. I have tried two other soaps made by others that did not give me that feeling even with the hard water. The business owners don’t give their recipes so I have no idea what amounts of ingredients they are using.

I find cocoa butter and sometimes other butters give a "squeak" while rinsing off the lather. My skin doesn't feel stripped of oils or over-cleansed, though; so for me at least, it isn't the same as 'squeaky clean'. So it depends -- hard to say without knowing exactly what's going on for you. Do you feel over-dry or just hearing the sound?

I felt dry when the coconut oil was 20%,the palm oil was 40%, and rice bran oil at 30%, and either castor oil or Shea butter at 10%. It felt squeaky clean when olive oil was subbed for rice bran oil. I also felt the squeakiness in a recipe that probably used olive oil, coconut oil, palm oil, goat’s milk, and Shea butter.

 

[atiz]

Lye soaps do have a particular feel due to their high pH, and that’s not something you can get rid of. I mostly make/use syndets because of it, and soap only occasionally. But people react to soap differently so you should experiment with your recipe and see if something makes a change.

ETA: since not *every* handmade soap gives you the feel, it’s probably your recipe. Good luck!

 

[steffamarie]

Try chelating with citric acid or tetrasodium edta. DeeAnna has some good info. https://classicbells.com/soap/chelator.html

 

[NGSoaper]

Lye soaps do have a particular feel due to their high pH, and that’s not something you can get rid of. I mostly make/use syndets because of it, and soap only occasionally. But people react to soap differently so you should experiment with your recipe and see if something makes a change.

ETA: since not *every* handmade soap gives you the feel, it’s probably your recipe. Good luck!

Even though making handmade soap is fun, with where I am at, I’d rather be using commercial soaps. My next shot is to use goat’s milk in lieu of water and cut down the coconut oil because that recipe was normal for me.

 

[Cellador]

What is your superfat? Maybe increasing it would leave a bit more on the skin and prevent the "super clean rinse" feeling.

 

[NGSoaper]

What is your superfat? Maybe increasing it would leave a bit more on the skin and prevent the "super clean rinse" feeling.

I superfat at 5%

 

[Marilyn Norgart]

have you tried making a soap with lard instead of palm?

 

[lenarenee]

Unfortunately, my water is hard. I have tried two other soaps made by others that did not give me that feeling even with the hard water. The business owners don’t give their recipes so I have no idea what amounts of ingredients they are using.

Try adding a chelator like citric acid, sodium citrate, or EDTA. The link provided above is an excellent source of info. Other people have commented on squeakiness and had hard water; the solution for them was chelators. If you find it's not the solution for you - them maybe try adjusting your recipe.

 

[Amy78130]

What percentage are you superfatting at?

 

[NGSoaper]

What percentage are you superfatting at?

5%

 

[Amy78130]

5%

Try bumping it up to 8, or 10 if you’re using a lot of coconut, and definitely let it cure a minimum of 2 months, go 3 if you have the patience! I have a 100% Castile soap that I didn’t touch for a year and it is superb. As mentioned, adding tetrasodium EDTA isn’t a bad idea either, I add disodium to acidic cosmetic formulas and tetrasodium to alkaline. Here’s the link where I get mine, the info on how to use it is on the description.

https://lotioncrafter.com/products/tetrasodium-edta

 

[The Efficacious Gentleman]

Sorry, but before you try any other recipe changes or superfat amount, look in to chelating. That will make the biggest difference for you. I am pretty certain that the soaps which were better did use something to chelate.

 

[NGSoaper]

Try bumping it up to 8, or 10 if you’re using a lot of coconut, and definitely let it cure a minimum of 2 months, go 3 if you have the patience! I have a 100% Castile soap that I didn’t touch for a year and it is superb. As mentioned, adding tetrasodium EDTA isn’t a bad idea either, I add disodium to acidic cosmetic formulas and tetrasodium to alkaline. Here’s the link where I get mine, the info on how to use it is on the description.

https://lotioncrafter.com/products/tetrasodium-edt
Thanks

Sorry, but before you try any other recipe changes or superfat amount, look in to chelating. That will make the biggest difference for you. I am pretty certain that the soaps which were better did use something to chelate.

The ingredient lists did not mention any cheating agents, unless they were not included on the list.

 

[Amy78130]

The ingredient lists did not mention any cheating agents, unless they were not included on the list.

Tetrasodium EDTA a chelator you can use in soapmaking.